Torpedo-launching apparatus for submarine vessels.



L SCHNEIDER. TORPEDO LAUNCHING APPARATUS FOR SUBMABINE VESSELS. I

APPLlCATlON FILED JUNE 15. 1914.

1,166,940, Patented Jan. 4, 1916.

3 SHEETS-SHEET I.

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E. SCHNEIDER.

TORPEDO LAUNCHING APPARATUS ron SUBMARINE VESSELS.

APPLICATION FI LED JUNE I5, 1914.

' Patented Jan. 4, 1916 3 SHEETS -SHEET 2.

E. SCHNEIDER. TORPEDO LAUNCHING APPARATUS FOR SUBMARINE VESSELS.

APPUCATION HL'ED JUNE I 5 9|4- 1,166,940. Patented Jan. 4, 1916.

EUGENE SCHNEIDER, OF LE CRIEUZOT, FRANCE.

TORPEDO-LA'UNCHING APPARATUS FOR SUBMARINE VESSELS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

. Patented Jan. 4, 1916.

Application filed June 15, 1914. Serial No. 845,138.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EUGJJNE SCHNEIDER, of Le Creuzot, France, have invented a new and useful Improvement in or Relating to Torpedo-Launching Apparatus for Submarin Vessels, which is fully set forth in the following specification.

The present invention has for its object to provide a torpedo launching apparatuswhich will enable a submerged submarine vessel to launch torpedoes at a training angle which can be regulated by an operator located inside the vessel, the said apparatus being also arranged in such a manner as to be capable of disappearing into' the superstructure of the submarine except when torpedoes are actually being launched so that the apparatus offers no resistance to submerged navigation.

The essential characteristic of the apparatus is therefore that the support can be caused to disappear before and after firing and that the apparatus .can be trained from the interior of the vessel.

The apparatus consists broadly of a framework for carrying the torpedo and which according to this invention is carried by a ring which can be given the desired direction and which for this urpose is pivoted to a guide plate which1s itself capable of a vertical movement. This vertical movement enables the apparatus to be placed in the concealed position or in the raised position while the movement of rotation of. the ring when it has been given the raised position enables the torpedo to be' trained into the firing position and then the framework to be returned to the position in which it can be moved downward into its concealed position.-

In order that the said invention may be more clearly understood and readily carried into efi'ect, I will now proceed to describe the same more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 shows the apparatus and its mechanism as a whole, the apparatus c- .cupying the position in WhlCh 1t 1s w1thdrawn into the superstructure. Fig. 2 is a similar view but with the apparatus in the raised position ready to be trained in the desired direction. Fig. 3 is a sectional ele- I vationofFig. 1. Fig. 4 is a partial section on a larger scale, illustrating the method of guldmg 'the torpedo during launching. Figs. 5 and 6 are partial'deta-il elevations corresponding to Figs. 1 and 2 showing on an enlarged scale a safety device for the hoisting mechanism. Fig. 7 is a horizontal section of the safety device'on the line 77 of Fig. 2. Figs. 8 and 9 are partial views corresponding respectively to Figs. 1 and 2 and illustrating on an enlarged scale the safety device for the training mechanism. Fig. .10 is a sectional elevation on a large scale of the safety device for the launching mechanlsm.

The aforesaid framework may be composed-for example of a girder A, the upper and lower plates 0 and a of which respectively carry slideways a provided with slots in which snugs b fixed in appropriate positions on the torpedo 'B engage, these snugs being for example at the two ends of the air reservoir; the said slideways are arranged, as will be hereinafter described, in v work Ais fixed to a ring D pivoted around the vertical axis of a guide plate E. This,

plate is integral with the rod F of a piston G sliding in a vertical cylinder H fixed to the deck I of theship. This piston is able to rise and fall in the cylinder H under theinfluence'of fluid under pressure supplied by a suitablevariable delivery pump J Two pipes j and 3" proceed from the pump J and terminate respectively at the upper and lower parts of the cylinder H; the pipe 3 s rves for the suction and the pipe j for the delivery or vice versa according to the position given. to a rod 1' controlled by a lever k.

In order to produce the upward 'and downward movements of the unit constituted by the framework and the torpedo means of a bearing 6 carried by the guide plate E. In the vertical movement of the guide plate E, the pinion 0K slides by means of a key or feather d in a keyway in a vertical shaft N which may be rotated by a hand wheel 0 located inside the ship by the intermediary of appropriate mechanism comprising, for example, a shaft 0, bevel pinions o, o a shaft 0 and toothed wheels 0 and n. The movement of rotation of the shaft N is transmitted to the ring D by the feather 0Z thepinion d and the teeth d.

In the known manner, the launching mechanism comprises a compressed air cylinder P the piston p of which acts upon the torpedo by means of a head 1) which engages with the hollow shaft at the tail of the torpedo. The compressed air which is furnished by a source not illustrated, passes through the conduit 9 to a launching valve 4); it then proceeds through the pipe 9' and the telescopic joint Q2 to the passage f formed in the rods F and F and thence to a step bearing R. No matter what the height of the framework and the direction imparted to it may be, the compressed air then passes to the cylinder 0 and finally to the cylinder P, as hereinafter explained.

The apparatus also comprises various accessory parts hereinafter referred to in the description of the operation.

Assuming the apparatus to occupy the normal or concealed position for navigation (Fig. 1) the framework is directed in a plane parallel or substantially parallel with the longitudinal plane of the vessel the guide plate E occupies the lowest point in its travel and the brake C of the torpedo is applied. The lever is of the pump occupies the zero or 'cut 05 position indicated in full lines in Fig. 1. In his position no portion of the apparatus projects above the superstructure M of the vessel.

In order to bring the torpedo into the firing position, the following operations have to be effected :The' lever is depressed into the position is which causes a distribution of the fluid in the pump J such that the pipe 9" serves for the delivery and the pipe 9' for the suction. Under the influence of the compressed fluid, the piston G rises,

raising the unit constituted by the guide i,iee,eeo

a shoulder s with which the rod S is provided; this rod S is suitably guided and in proximity to its lower extremity it carries a stud S engaging a slot in the lever 70. This lifting of the rod S by the finger f returns the lever is to the position in which the pump effects no delivery. At this moment the members occupy the position indicated in Fig. 2. The guide plate E is at such a height that the frame A protrudes completely above the superstructure M of the vessel and is able to rotate freely. The guide plate E still remains firmly held by the four guides L. It is then possible to lower beneath the lower end of the rod F, the base t of a yokepiece Tpivoted at t to the cylinder II (Figshl, 2, 5, and 6). Before the piston G had reached the top of its stroke, this movement was impossible as the base if was hearing against the rod F. In the lowered position represented in Fig. 7, the base of the yokepiece engages beneath the head of the rod F, and bears by means of the bottom of a recess against the telescopic joint 9 The depression of the base t produces the following effects 1. The yokepiece T maintains the piston and the entire apparatus at the top of their stroke even if the pump J should. be damaged (Fig. 2).

2. A projection t integral with the yokepiece T comes into the path of the upperend of the rod S which, as shown in Figs. 2 and 6, renders it impossible to raise the rod S, and it is consequently impossible to unintentionally bring the control lever 70 of the pump into the descending position 70 indicated in broken lines in Fig. 2.

3. A projection t on the right hand side of the yokepiece T has hitherto prevented any training movement by blocking a member II in the form of a nut upon a threaded portion of the shaft 0 as-shown in Fig. 8. When the parts occupy the position indicated in Figs. 2 and 9, the member U is released.

Itis then possible by operating the hand wheel 0 to give the framework the desired training angle by means of the gearing described above with the certainty that the frame cannot be turned until clear of the super-structure.

The movement of rotation of the shaft 0 to move in a vertical path but prevents it p from rotating during such travel. It is therefore only possible to raise the yokepiece and thereby release the control lever is, after the frame has been turned back from the training angle to a plane parallel with the longitudinal vertical plane of the ship (Fig.

' 2). The displacement of the nut U over a suitable scale X indicates the angle at which the frame has been set.. Consequently the torpedo can be launched when it has been given the desired aim. To do this, it is only necessary to press the lever V in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 10. This movement lifts the valve 'v in thecasmg Q and the air, in following the path 9', q", f, and R, enters the cylinder 0, presses back the piston c, which releases the brake C and depresses the known air supply lever of the torpedo for starting the gyroscope and,

the motor of the torpedo. When the piston c has reaohedthe end of its stroke, it uncovers the orifice of the pipe 0 through which the air proceeds to the cylinder P, and finally acts upon the piston 12. Under the influence of this piston, the torpedo is projected from the frame and liberated with an initial impulse; The gyroscope is thus able to act in the known manner if the torpedo should be deflected from 'its path by some accidental cause. It should how-' ever, be noted that the movement of the lever V cannot take place until after the nut has described a certain path a; (Fig. 10)

which varies with different types of vessels and which is such that the torpedo cannot be launched when there is any dangerof its encountering any part of the hull of the vessel.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is '1. In a submarine vessel, a torpedo holding frame within said vessel, means for vertically moving and training said frame, and means for launching a torpedo from said frame.

2. In a submarine vessel having a torpedo compartment, -a torpedo carrying "frame adapted to be moved into and out of said compartment, and means for moving said frame to firing position.

3. In a submarine-vessel, the combination of a movable supporting frame, a torpedo submarine deck, mechanism for training said frame, and means for normally locking said launchmg mechan sm.

I for operating I for moving sald frame clear of the submarine deck, mechanism for trammg said launching mechanism carried by said frame, and means for operating sa d mechamsm, means for movlng said frame clear of the 4. In a submarine vessel, the combination of a movable supporting frame, a torpedo launching mechanism carried thereby, means said mechanism, means frame and released by movement of said frame, and means for normally locking saidlaunching mechanism.

5. In a submarine vessel provided with a torpedo compartment, the combination of a reciprocating support in said-compartment,

a rotatable torpedo carrying frame revolubly mounted in said support, and means for moving said frame into and out of saidcompartment. I

6. In a torpedo launching apparatus for submarine vessels, a torpedo compartment, a torpedo carrying frame adapted to be moved in and out of said compartment, and means for training and launching a torpedo from said frame when the latter has been moved out of its compartment.

7. In a submarine vessel, a torpedo compartment having therein a movable torpedo support, guiding members for said support, a torpedo carrying frame pivoted on said support, a motor outside said compartment for moving said support clear of the vessel superstructure or deck, training mechanism released by a predetermined movement of 'said frame for rotating, the latter into launching position, and means released by the operation of said training mechanism for launching a torpedo from said carrying frame.

8. In-a submarine vessel, a torpedo compartment having therein a movable torpedo support, guiding members for said support,

a torpedo carrying frame pivoted on said support, a motor outside said compartment for moving said support clear of the vessel superstructure or deck, means for holding said motor inoperative when said support is clear of said superstructure, training mechanism released by a predetermined movement of said frame for rotating the latter into launching position, and means released a by the operation of said training mechanism for launching a torpedo from said carrying said torpedo, and automatic means successively operable for locking the elevatin means and for releasing sald training an launching means.

12. In a submarine vessel, a torpedo support adapted to carry a torpedo, means for elevating sald support clear of the vessel superstructure for training and launching superstructure for training and launching said torpedo, and automatic safety means successively operable for locking the elevating means and for releasing said training and launching means and for automatically operating said safety means in reverse order When returning said support to normal po- 'sition.

meaeeo In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing- Witnesses.

EUGENE SCHNEIDER Witnesses:

CIIAs. P. PREssLY, G. GUERITA. 

